Already it was the end of September, and it was time for our friends Jacquie and Jeff Hardman and their son Liam to come and visit us for a few days in London. Serious preparations where made for their visit, the house was thoroughly cleaned, new bed linen was bought and their room set-up and toys, nappies and stroller where bought for Liam. I had fun buying everything for Liam, and am amazed at the many different types of strollers out there, and it was funny seeing Ben’s face as I came home each day with new kids stuff!
Finally they arrived on the Saturday, and thankfully the weather warmed up for them. After an arrival lunch, Jeff and Ben went off to the Fulham vs. Manchester City game and Jacquie, Liam and I wandered down to Kensington for cake and coffee to eat in Kensington Gardens. We had a lovely afternoon there with Liam chasing after all the puppy dogs and having fun in the playground on the Pirates’ Ship.
Their second day was another wonderful day and we went to the London Eye and walked from there down the embankment to the Tower Bridge and Tower of London. It was a good day for the London Eye, nice clear skies. The actual ride takes about 30 minutes, which is all you need really. Highlights on the walk down the embankment were the HMS Belfast (Jeff was able to give us detailed information here after serving in the Australian Navy), the fountain for Liam, clarification on London Bridge and the Tower Bridge, and for the boys taking Liam back to the Pirates’ Ship while Jacquie and I popped down to High Street Kensington for a quick visit to the ships and to pick up dinner!
Jacquie and Jeff’s final day in London before heading to Paris on the EuroStar was a typical London day, miserable and wet! Our original plans were altered and after a tricky start with tubes, we decided to take Liam to the Natural History Museum to see the Dinosaur exhibition. He was suitably impressed with all the dinosaurs, especially Dorothy the Dinosaur’s “brother”, T-Rex!!! Jeff took Liam back for his nap and then again to the park whilst Jacquie and I spent the next 5 hours shopping on Oxford St. This I really enjoyed as it was nice having someone else to shop with! Ben joined us after work and we had a lovely dinner at The Electric, where Liam showed he had a tendency to befriend tall men and people with dogs and proceed to follow them up the road!
Lunch on our roof terrace - Jeff, Jacquie, Liam & Inge
Ben & Inge on the roof terrace - Liam helping Ben take photos!
Liam enjoying his new Dora the Explorer book & Jeff at the Football
On the way to see the London Eye
Liam and the rare blue sky - Ben's artistic shot from underneath the London Eye
Jeff & Liam
View from the London Eye
St Paul's & the Millenium Bridge - Southwark Cathedral on our walk along the Thames Embankment
Jacquie, Jeff & Liam enjoying the Pirate's Ship in Kensington Gardens
Liam at Paddington Station & with Jeff at the Natural History Museum with Dorothy's brother, T-Rex!
It was nice having visitors again after quite a few months without! We don’t have anymore visitors now until next year, but we’ll be keeping busy until then. I start my new job on the 15th October and in between then and now we’re off to Madrid, Barcelona and France for the Rugby World Cup!
Inge & Ben xoxoxo
